"Thoughts from Grandma Beth" Family, Friends & Time

January 8, 1984 Sunday

I have decided in this New Year I shall try and write in my journal at least once a week. Hopefully someday I shall find time to write a little every day.

Today Dianne played the organ in sacrament meeting--the prelude and postlude and all the Hymns. She did very well and I was proud of her. There is nothing like good practical experience. All the lessons in the world are not enough. One needs the opportunities to use what talents one has. Our church is so wonderful in this respect that it gives a member a chance to serve and use what talents he has and thus develop them. I will always appreciate the opportunities I had to use my musical ability in the various organizations of the church. Also to teach the gospel has been a real joy for me.

My very dearest friend, Kathryn Kirk has cancer and it breaks my heart. She has always been so healthy. It really makes one wonder what on earth one can do to avoid that awful disease. I feel sure Kathryn ate good healthy food. She had been working very hard on a book that contained the history and story of the lives of all her ancestors. She had been working on it for about two years. I got after her several times, to not spend so much time on it, as she was missing so many other things in her life. She told me several times that she did not know what it was that seemed to give her a sense of urgency to get the book finished. She said she just felt like she had to keep at it and finish it. I feel sure that was the Spirit urging her on.

I know the Lord can easily make her better if her mission here is not finished, but perhaps she is needed on the other side. I shall really miss her. She was a great example to me in many ways. I never heard her swear or tell a dirty joke. She really lived the commandments as far as I could see and put the church first in her life along with her family. I did get a chance to see her when they first brought her home from the hospital. She really wasn't having any visitors, but they did let me in to talk to her for a little while. We did cry together for we both knew how serious her condition was. It was significant to me that she said, "From now on I must get my priorities straight." Coming from one who gave so much time to the church and her family, I was somewhat surprised. She did give much service also to worthwhile community things. I can only guess that perhaps she felt that she tried to do too much at the expense sometimes of the things that matter most.

That is true in my life for sure. I am too busy and I don't do the compassionate service I should be doing. By that I mean, visiting with my sick friends, taking in food. I do some of that but not enough. I know if I knew that I was going to die in a short period of time, I would let all my clubs go and spend that precious time with my family, letting them know I loved them so much. All my clubs are really worthwhile and I learn a lot and develop my talents because of the things I do in the groups, but we still have to choose in life among many good and worthwhile activities. That is the real test, I am convinced, to learn what one must eliminate when there is just so much time. I know my husband often thinks I am too busy to spend time with him. Well, I shall try and do better, before it is too late!!

Beth

Picture taken on a camping trip to Colter Bay that the Henderson & Kirk family went on together. Kathryn Kirk and Beth Henderson standing next to each other in the middle.